" I have a few questions about Dominican cultural customs, for a project I am doing. What is a typical way of greeting in the Dominican Republic? (handshake, kiss, etc) What is the ""personal space"" for a discuccion (face to face, lots of space etc.) How is merchandise usually sold: across a counter, bargaining etc. Thanks for any help! -KAri "

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" Kari, As you can see by now, The Dominican Culture as far as hand shake or kiss, can vary according to the time, and I guess is pretty much similar in the Stats. If is Business,...A hand shake if is social a Kiss is more likely to happen (If you know the person already). People are very friendly and always in a good mood (even crazy drivers, and no one gets seriously offended by it. DR is OK, if´s Fun and best of all it is safer than many Hispanic countries, but it would be nice to have some better organized securities, even thou I here the gov. is reforming their police force, that would make DR even better. "

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Yes, kissing is customary but when you kiss somebody of a higher social status than you, you must kiss them on the lips. If you meet someone older than 80, you must spit in their hands before shaking it. It is a sign of respect. I hope I was helpful. Many spits for you.
Sincerely,
Fucu

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The next message post by somebody called FUCU, is totally A LIE, and (I guess) a malintentioned lie. I quote literally:

"Yes, kissing is customary but when you kiss somebody of a higher social status than you, you must kiss them on the lips. If you meet someone older than 80, you must spit in their hands before shaking it. It is a sign of respect. I hope I was helpful. Many spits for you.
Sincerely,
Fucu"

I do not know what country this person was talking about, but I´m sure it was not about Dominican Republic. In my country (Dominican Republic), it´s custumary to kiss others only IF THOSE PEOPLE ARE YOUR FAMILY OR OLD FRIENDS. If you and your wife happen to meet an old friend and his wife, you shake hands with your friend, maybe share a little hug (depending on the closeness of the friendship) the wives may exchange a single kiss placed on the chin.

It is a lie that you kiss people you don´t know on the lips and it is another BIG lie that you spite in hands of the elderly before shaking their hands. When we salute somebody, if is somebody we do not know we just shake hands, if is a family member or a close friend (oposite sex, in men case) we kiss them. In the case of a woman, they salute friends, coleagues and classmate and people that are just been introduced them with kisses, or with handshakes.

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